Fraser Health is providing an important update to all expectant patients and families regarding maternity services at Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows Hospitals.
Because of a temporary shortage of obstetrician-gynecologist physicians at Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows Hospitals on select dates over the holiday season, people in labour who had planned to give birth at these hospitals may be guided to another maternity site to ensure they receive safe, uninterrupted care.
Patients who are registered to deliver their babies at Ridge Meadows or Peace Arch Hospitals have been contacted by their care provider, so they know what to expect and feel fully supported. If they are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, patients are asked to first call the Maternity Unit, and they will be directed to the appropriate site for assessment.
If it is an emergency, patients should call 9-1-1.
We are working closely with our physician group to fill the gaps in coverage and are proactively sharing this update with the community to ensure our patients and their families have the information they need. We know this update may cause concern for our patients and families and apologize for any added stress this may bring as they prepare for their baby’s arrival. These steps are in place to support them in receiving timely, appropriate care.
While temporary diversions are part of our regular operating procedure, we work diligently to minimize their use in our hospitals whenever possible. When we are unable to fill gaps in physician coverage, we reluctantly implement temporary diversions to ensure the safety of our patients.
We are working hard to recruit obstetrician-gynecologists to Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows Hospitals, using national and international recruitment to fill positions as quickly as possible. We are pleased to share that we have hired one physician at Peace Arch Hospital who is expected to join the team in Spring 2026.
Over the past year, we have recruited six obstetrician-gynecologists to work at our hospitals across the region, helping to ensure adequate resources are in place for all communities we serve.
We continue to partner with the local Divisions of Family Practice and the obstetrician-gynecologist groups at both hospitals to maintain reliable maternity services for families in the White Rock-South Surrey and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows communities.
To support patients and families, a new webpage has been developed which can be found here. This page will be updated as the situation changes.
For information on pregnancy and our maternity hospitals, visit www.fraserhealth.ca/pregnancy.
About Fraser Health:
We recognize that Fraser Health provides care on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.
Fraser Health is dedicated to serving all Indigenous peoples, and honours the unique cultures of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit living within the Fraser Salish region.
Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities.